'Energy firm documents destroyed'

Bankrupt US energy giant, Enron, is investigating the reported destruction of documents that allegedly took place at its Houston headquarters after the federal government began investigating the firm, a lawyer for the company said.

In an on-air interview yesterday with ABC News, a former Enron executive, identified as Maureen Castaneda, said the shredding of documents took place in an accounting office on the 19th floor.

Ms Castaneda displayed one box of the shredded material. She said: "I got ... when I was leaving work to basically use ... for packing material".

"There was a lot more than this," she said, standing next to the box. She said some of the shredding may have occurred as recently as this month.

Ms Castaneda said the destruction began in late November and continued until at least last week.

The Securities and Exchange Commission began looking into Enron, the world's largest energy

trading company, in mid-October.

"We are investigating the circumstances of the

reported destruction of documents," Washington attorney Robert Bennett, who is representing Enron, said in a statement.

"In October 2001 the company issued several directives to all Enron employees worldwide that all relevant documents should be preserved in light of pending litigation," Mr Bennett added. "If anyone violated those directives, they will be dealt with appropriately."